Iron rise into top half

Last updated : 28 February 2006 By Daniel Elwes

The 2-1 success at Vale Park, thanks to goals from Matt Sparrow and Cleveland Taylor, moved United onto 41 points.

It moves the Iron up to 12th in the table, but with the lower half of the table so tight only six points distance them from the relegation zone.

Premiership referee Steve Bennett was at the centre of a row when he stepped down two divisions to officiate Bournemouth against Barnsley.

Bennett, whose last action at the top level came at the weekend when he sent off Manchester City's Joey Barton at Liverpool, was in trouble with the home crowd and the Cherries players for allowing the visitor's early goal.

Both sets of players halted in their tracks when it looked as if Marc Richards had handled inside the Bournemouth area but the Kent official did not blow his whistle and Stephen McPhail scored with a right-foot shot.

Bournemouth at last got level after a second half of intense pressure after 70 minutes.

The busy Steve Foley took a corner on the left and new signing Adam Griffiths rose above the Barnsley defence to head home.

Barnsley almost snatched a winner in injury time when Bournemouth goalkeeper Gareth Stewart left his line to meet a centre from Martin Devaney but was beaten to it by substitute Tommy Wright.

Doncaster and Brentford fought out a frustrating goalless draw. Rovers outplayed Brentford for long periods but failed to make the most of their chances with Ross McCormack setting the pattern when he struck an angled shot just wide in the third minute.